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Cdim7 chord

Cdim7 (C diminished seventh) is C, E♭, G♭ and B𝄫. It sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic film-villain chord.

Cdim7

C diminished seventh · C E♭ G♭ B𝄫 · 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7

CB𝄫E♭G♭

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the Cdim7 chord

From C, count 3 half steps up to E♭, 3 more to G♭ and 3 more to B𝄫. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7: each number is the note’s place in the C major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is two white keys and two black keys (E♭ and G♭). B𝄫 is the white key A.

The notes of Cdim7 and their intervals from C
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
C1Root0
E♭♭3Minor third3
G♭♭5Diminished fifth6
B𝄫♭♭7Diminished seventh9

Cdim7 chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

C E♭ G♭ B𝄫

Written Cdim7, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

E♭ G♭ B𝄫 C

Written Cdim7/E♭: E♭ at the bottom.

2nd inversion

G♭ B𝄫 C E♭

Written Cdim7/G♭: G♭ at the bottom.

3rd inversion

B𝄫 C E♭ G♭

Written Cdim7/B𝄫: B𝄫 at the bottom.

Keys with the Cdim7 chord

Cdim7 is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Minor keys

Raised 7th: the minor key with its seventh note a half step higher (harmonic minor), as most minor songs play their V and vii chords.

Chords that often come after Cdim7

D♭mD♭ F♭ A♭Cdim7 is the vii°7 of D♭m: every note leans into it.D♭D♭ F A♭The same half step up into D♭, home in the major key.

More piano chords

Other chords on C

CCmC7Cmaj7Cm7Csus2Csus4Cadd9C9C6CdimCm7♭5Caug

Diminished seventh chords on other notes

C♯dim7Ddim7D♯dim7Edim7Fdim7F♯dim7Gdim7G♯dim7Adim7A♯dim7Bdim7

Or see every chord at once on the piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Cdim7 chord?

Cdim7 is C, E♭, G♭ and B𝄫. On the piano that is two white keys and two black keys (E♭ and G♭). B𝄫 is the white key A.

How do you play Cdim7 on the piano?

With your right hand, play C, E♭, G♭ and B𝄫 with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb to little finger). With your left hand it is 5, 3, 2 and 1. From C, count 3 half steps up to E♭, 3 more to G♭ and 3 more to B𝄫.

What are the inversions of Cdim7?

Root position: C E♭ G♭ B𝄫. 1st inversion: E♭ G♭ B𝄫 C (Cdim7/E♭). 2nd inversion: G♭ B𝄫 C E♭ (Cdim7/G♭). 3rd inversion: B𝄫 C E♭ G♭ (Cdim7/B𝄫). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is Cdim7 in?

In minor keys, it is the vii°7 chord in C♯ minor (written B♯dim7, with its raised seventh).

Can I make a beat with Cdim7?

Yes. “Make a beat in C♯ minor” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in C♯ minor on C♯m A E B, the key where Cdim7 is the vii°7 chord (written B♯dim7). Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in C♯ minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in C♯ minor on C♯m A E B, the key where Cdim7 is the vii°7 chord (written B♯dim7). Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in C♯ minorAll piano chords

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